James Brown calls on men to help prevent domestic violence

Before the Baltimore Ravens took on the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Thursday Night Football," CBS Sports host James Brown made a passionate case for men to play a bigger role in helping to prevent domestic violence in the wake of the release of a video showing Ray Rice hitting his then-fiancee.

"Let's be clear, this problem is bigger than football," Brown said. "There has been, appropriately so, intense and widespread outrage following the release of the video showing what happened inside the elevator at the casino.

"But wouldn't it be productive if this collective outrage, as my colleagues have said, could be channeled to truly hear and address the long-suffering cries for help by so many women and, as they said, do something about it?" Brown asked. "Like an ongoing, comprehensive education of men about what healthy, respectful manhood is all about.

"And it starts with how we view women," Brown said. "Our language is important. For instance, when a guy says 'You throw the ball like a girl' or 'You're a little sissy,' it reflects an attitude that devalues women, and attitudes will eventually manifest in some fashion.

"Women have been at the forefront in the domestic-violence awareness and prevention arena," Brown said, "and whether Janay Rice considers herself a victim or not, millions of women in this country are.

"So this is yet another call to men," Brown said, "to stand up and take responsibility for their thoughts, their words, their deeds and ... to give help or to get help because our silence is deafening and deadly."

Brown noted that more than three women every day die at the hands of their partners.